BROWN insists the boycott has nothing to do with Dundee United's role in the decision to send Rangers to the Third Division.

JOHN BROWN has backed Rangers’ boycott of Tannadice and says it’s payback time for Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson.

The Ibrox Nine-in-a-Row legend insists the Light Blues legions are right to have called on their ranks to stay away from the Scottish Cup clash in February.

Chief executive Charles Green backed their stance and officially informed United this week that he would accept no tickets for the last-16 fixture.

While a number of observers believe Rangers are being petty and pointing fingers at the Taysiders’ part in the decision to boot their club from the SPL, Brown says that’s off the mark.

In his opinion the real reason for the stand-off stems from three years ago.

In November 2009, Rangers had an SPL encounter against their hosts halted at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch.

It was understood fans who had ticket stubs would gain entry for the restaging free of charge. But United later decided, due to the costs of stewarding and policing and various other matchday outlays, supporters would have to pay full price again for the match.

Brown insists it was bang out of order for United to hit Rangers supporters in the pocket twice.

He said: “People have to understand this is not about fans boycotting the game because of the administration and everything that came along with the sanctions.

“This is mainly about a game which was cancelled. That chairman of theirs insisted Rangers fans paid for a second time to get into the match.

“The supporters paid good money to go up and watch the first match and it was postponed. Yet when they rearranged the fixture he still charged the punters for a second time.

“To me, that is the worst of the worst.

“Therefore I can completely understand the Rangers supporters on this one and I genuinely don’t believe there is any real grievance towards the United fans.

“To me this is about the chairman and I agree with the total boycott because of that lad Thompson.

“I know they have been trying to get back at people who were involved in the voting regards the administration and the demotion to the Third Division, but this is outwith that.

“Although they were still sticking the knife in during the administration, that really has nothing to do with this. The cheek of the guy to charge the Rangers fans for a second time was incredible.

“That just cashed in on the loyalty of the Rangers supporters and it was out of order. Enough is enough.”